The City Council of Webster City on Monday approved the fiscal year 2024 Street Finance Annual Report which must be filed with the Iowa Department of Transportation by December 1. The report confirmed $1,105,302 in road use tax dollars were spent to repair city streets in 2024.

The council has already approved $3.5 million for street repairs in fiscal year 2025.

Road use taxes come, in part, from gasoline taxes, vehicle registrations, titles, driver’s license fees, and taxes on motor vehicle sales.

Also approved by the council was the annual Urban Renewal Report which must be submitted to the Iowa Department of Management by December 1 each year. The City’s Urban Renewal Plan lays out improvements in residential, commercial and industrial development. A key tool is the use of tax abatements to aid private companies in development and redevelopment plans in Webster City.

First used in 2011, the tax incentives have supported expansion of Fareway’s Webster City

supermarket, repurposing of the short-lived Shopko Hometown store into Appliance Plus, expansion of First State Bank’s downtown offices, a substantial make-over of People’s Credit Union, and support of Ridge Development’s new home construction in Brewer Creek Estates.

Most of these programs cover 80% of the incremental tax revenues generated by increased business activity and run for a period of nine to 14 years.

In her council memorandum on the matter, City Finance Director Dodie Wolfram pointed out “rebates are paid from actual taxes paid and do not include backfills from the State of Iowa.” The net effect on the city’s general fund is estimated to be $50,732.

The city’s agreements with Black Hills Energy passed a third reading Monday with no comments or objections from the public, paving the way for a 25-year contract for the energy company to operate Webster City’s natural gas system; 67.58% of votes cast in the November 5 general election were in favor of renewing contracts with Black Hills.

In other action, the council:

— Authorized city staff to propose a plan for a change in parking arrangements at 1919 Willson Avenue. The home’s front yard is presently used for parking, which encroaches into the public right of way. In researching the matter, staff could find no evidence of a previous agreement between the city and the present property owner, waiving the city’s prohibition of parking motor vehicles in front yards.

The memo explained the situation: “Existing City Code does not allow for parking in front yards. It is believed the parking area in the front yard was installed sometime in the 1970s before the property was acquired by the present owner. The current owner believes curbing the front yard property will impede the ability of the existing tenants to park in the current parking area. Staff agrees with the property owner that curbing the entire front yard property line will result in a permanent nuisance at the property if the tenants begin driving over the curb for parking. The present owners of the property bought it seven years ago.”

— Approved transfer of two funds from the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation to the newly-formed Wilson Brewer Park Foundation. The first fund, which is composed mainly of individual private contributions and those from Hamilton County, may be put to use immediately as the Foundation board directs; its was worth $270,315.77 on November 1. The second, known as the Wilson Brewer Park Endowment Fund, cannot be accessed for five years, allowing it time to grow and, it is hoped, provide a perpetual source of income for the park. Its November 1 valuation was $1,082.655.41.

Replying to a question from Councilman Logan Welch, City Manager John Harrenstein said, “This essentially divests the city from financial affairs of Wilson Brewer Park.”

He continued, saying the city remains responsible for grass mowing, snow removal and trash removal at the park. It also maintains a liability insurance policy on park property, the cost of which “can be deducted from our $50,000 annual contribution, or billed to the Foundation as they choose.”

The City of Webster City continues to own the buildings and grounds of Wilson Brewer Park.